Sapphire is thought to make the melancholy cheerful and maintain
the power or vigor of the body. The stone helps the eyes, boils, rheumatism,
and colic. The high priest of Egypt wore a sapphire upon his shoulder, and
Aelian says that it was called truth. The Buddhists still ascribe a sacred
magical power to it, and hold that it reconciles man to God. The sapphire
is a good amulet against fear, promoting
the flow of animal spirits, hindering argue and gout, promoting chastity,
and preventing eyes from being affected by smallpox. (see Gem
Healing) A.G.H.